Robotic-assisted neck dissection

Abstract

The neck dissection has had several evolutions in the last decades, most recently with the addition of the robotic neck dissection to the head and neck surgeon's arsenal. The robotic neck dissection has emerged as a viable option for patients and offers a minimally invasive approach to the cervical lymphatic system. The major advantage includes the avoidance of a visible neck scar, while its limitations include increased operative time and cost. After several iterations, the retro-auricular/modified facelift incision has developed into the surgical approach of choice, offering excellent cosmesis while securing oncologic effectiveness. In this chapter we describe this approach in detail.